The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-05-21

one gave answer. Grant meanwhile said
nothing and pretty soon vii rode on.
Whether tho battery practice did any exc
cution 20 friend or foe, no one ever knew.
The wounded man was conducted 70 the
roar aud properly cared for when the
writer again went forward 10 his regl'
ment
4 In passing over n hill the dead body Of an
artiloryman was seen who had just been
killed by muskct ball on tho very spot
upon which the writer stood "a momnnt be-
fore. Passing forward IL was found the
regiment he'd advanced. The firing
FIR III the Confcderates had now
dw.ndod down 10 an occasional
bullets. One Of tho latter came in close
prOxim ~ Of the writer as he passed over
another hll, II struck little sycamore
bush Just u his right At the foot of the
hin lay regiment VI infantry aud just be-
hind II fell several cannon balls, these the
writer saw coming through the air In his
front and knocking of liubs OF trees Us
they descended.
tn, sun was so low, and before reaching
the regiment four men were met, just from
IT, bearing upon a stretcher one OF thu ON
GERS who hal received an ugly wound in
the hip from a grape shot The party were
con luCtcd To farm house, where tho
woun eel man was properly cared for.
The country all about Grand Gulf Miss,
is hily and broken up into ravincs and hol-
lows.
a little west OF Port Gibson tho road TO
the river divides and two roadways for u
number Of miles, follow along two lines OF
ridges.
Upon either Of these roads General
Bowen, in command Of the Confederate
forces, took position five miles from Port
Gibson the n ght Of April 30, 1863.
Here he encountered the Fedcrals May |,
was DIR ven back with considerable loss,
and Just before night made stand with
small part Of his force two miles from Port
Gibson while his main army retrcated.
Dur NJ the night Of May |, the last Conici-
crate withdrew beyond Bayou Pierre, and
the Bird . behind was burned.
The same night the Fedcrals slept on
their arms. with orders 10 renew the con-
iict early in the morning.
When moruing came, however, 1t was
found there was no enemy near.
The night of May |, 1853, Is as indelibly
impressed on the writer's memory as the
previous days battle. Through the day
the excitement, the novelty of beng for
anl interesting things incident to battle,
made the whole experience rather pleas
urablo than otherwise. But night brought
any thing but plcasurablo experiences. As
before stated. the knapsacks, blankets and
all Of the kind had been left behind And
as the nights in the South, even in the
warmcst weather, are cool, much discom-
fort was experienced for want OF some
thing in the way OF covering.
A rubber blanket was shared with COM
plnlon, but this seemed to catch all the
dew aad moisture there was in the atmos-
phere, and from its surface was absorbed
by ones clothing Under the circum-
stances sleep was broken, and in wakeful
hours the miEd naturally dwe!t upon tho
horrible in the previous days history.
Thoughts something as follows had free
course through the writer's brain:
We'll the regiment for six months has
been wanting to DO in n battle, and now
it's been in one and not hard one either.
but there is probably not man but next
time will checrfuly take some other fell
lows word for it and stay out himself if he
can do so honorably. Then those dead fell
lows living beside the road just like they
were Slaughtered hogs or sheep. And
besides how ptiously the wounded moaned
and how horribly their poor MANNED limbs
and gaping wounds looked. There may
be lots Of glory In war but it isn't so
radiant nor very appar ent at about one
o'clock the next morning after battle"
However the mornings sun of May Q
came up warm, bright and beautiful; some
strong coffee was taken, when word came
in that the Confcderatcs were badly de.
feated the day before and had all returned
from our 'front.' and that we were to fell
low Immediately. At this time q young
confederate soldier turned up, but from
Just where no one knew. One Of the
surgeons however tapped him on the
shoulder saying: "You are my prisoner"
He like Barkis was Milling and was at once
turned over to the proper authorities.
All fell in line and were soon on the road
to Port Gibson. A little way along the
route, the place where tho Confelerates
made their last stand was seen; this was
at the top of hill, and by the roadside
near pile of rails lay dead Confederate.
He seemed to have been tall, lank fellow,
a typical specimen, and though the wealth
err was as warm as juno in the North,
there was yet on his head a heavy fur cap.
A little farther on under mulberry
tree lay the body OF good looking young
Confederate. He was rotuud in figure and
had on what seemed to be n new suit of
gray Jeans. Already tho blue flies were
lowering about the dead body, but his late
enemies, thus soon becoming familiar with
violent forms of death, ComplacentIy gath